Electric socket and casing



. 7- F. c. KOLLATH ELECTRIC SOCKET AND CASING ori inal Filed Marc xh 17, 1950 mud/)2! @Mm 80 8 Rearmed Der-.14,- 1937 UNITED STATES V Re. 20585 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC sooxn'r nub oasnvo Francis 0. Kollath, Chicago, 111., assignor of onehalt to Daniel Woodhead, Evanston, Ill.

Original No. 2,018,134, dated October 22, 1935, se-

rial No. 436,289, March 17, 1930. Application for reissue May 8, 1936, Serial No. 78,725

Y 11 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric socket and particularly to anelectric socket provided with means which interflttingly engage a socket guard or casing;

The primary object of the invention is to provide a socket which has new and novel means for connecting a strain relief member thereto, and which has new and improved terminals arranged thereon.

Another object is to providea new and improved socket which is provided with means for interfittingly engaging a socket guard or casing.

A further object is to provide a casing of improved construction which is provided with means for interflttingly receiving a strain relief member on'a socket.

A still further object is to provide an improved strain relief member which is secured to the body of a socket by elements which act as contactors ,or terminals. It is an additional object of the present inventionto provide a new and improved type of rubber encased electrical connector in which the contactor elements will not twist loose in the casing during use.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The invention comprises in general a socket member having a relatively flat member which is made of insulating material and which is connected to the body of the socket by the terminals to which electrical contact is made with the socket. The member is provided with outwardly 5 extending projections which are received in grooves in a flexible rubber guard or casing. The projections on the member provide shoulders which engage shoulders inside of the rubber guard or casing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail elevation showing the improved socket arranged in its cooperating guard or casing and showing conductors electrically connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the improved socket and member.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates generally a socket member having the usual screw threaded Shelli. 'l'hisshellisrigidlyconnectedtoanin-- attached and which are elctrically connected with the socket in the usual manner. These ter minals 8 each comprise a main body portion 9 into whicha screw member ill threadedly engages 5 for securing the conductors II and [2 to the terminals. A base portion I3 which is integral with the body 9 is bent over from the body portion and is rigidly connected to the disk I. A wing portion l4 which is integral with the body portion 9 is 10 bent at right angles to the body portion and is rigidly connected to the member I5. Each terminal 8 therefore comprises a'portion which is attached to the socket member, a portion which is attached to the member l5, and a body portion to 15 which an electrical connection is made with a conductor.

The member 15 is made of insulating material and comprises a. base portion is which is adapted to rest against the outer face of the disk 1. This 20 member i5 isfastened to the socket by means of the terminals 3 which were previously described. Projections I1 and I8 extend from the sides l9 and 20 respectively of the member I5 and provide shoulders 2| and 22. Holes 23 and 24 may be pro- 25 vided in the member to receive the conductors H and I 2 respectively. The conductorsstraddle the member IS, the conductor I 2 passing over one side or the member 15, through the hole 24 and then connected to a. terminal 8 on one side of themem- 3 her i5, while the conductor ll passes over the other side of the member I5, through the hole 28 and connected to theterminal 8 on' the side opposite to which the conductor [2 is connected to its cooperating terminal 8. 35

The socket together with the member i 5 is adapted to be inserted within a flexible rubber casing or'guard 25. This guard 25 has an enlarged portion 26 having an enlarged recess 2'! and a portion 28 which is provided with a. passage 40 29 which communicates with the recess 21. The socket 5 is adapted to be received in the recess 27 Q and the conductors i land 12 which are encased in a single sheath 30, extend through the passage 29 and make electrical connection with the coni tacts after the conductors pass through the holes 23 and 24. By passing the conductors through theholes on opposite sides as previously set forth, any strainapplied on the cable 30 willvnot be transmitted to the terminals but will be taken 541 up by the member I5 where the conductors pass through the holes 23 and 24.

The casing or guard 25 is provided withoppositely alined longitudinal slots or grooves 3| and v 32. These slots or grooves are deepened or en'- larged at 33 to provide shoulders 34, These shoulders are adapted to engage the shoulders 2| be slid through the slots or grooves 3| and 32.

casing having alined grooves extending from the When the socket is finally inserted in position, the

projections l1 and [8 will engage the sides of the slots or grooves where they are deepened as indicated at 33. The flexibility of the casing permits it to spring back to normal position and engage or hug the sides of the member l5 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. on the member l5 engage the shoulders 34 in the casing to prevent the socket from being withdrawn accidentally from the casing, but the flexibility of the rubber permits the socket to be withdrawn from the casing if and when it is desired to remove it. The guard 25 may also be provided with exterior annular flanges 35 and 36 to pro-- vide an annular groove 31 into which the clamping ring of a shade or lamp guard (not shown) may be rece ved. The flat member i5 engaging the grooves in the casing prevents the socket or any of its parts from turning in the casing even when a lamp orplug is screwed in the socket;

The invention provides a socket which is comparatively simple in construction and which may be readily and economically manufactured. The

member IE not only acts as a strain relief to take up any strain which may be exerted on the conductors, but it also assists in holding the socket member in its cooperating casing. The casing is provided with a groove into which the member l5 may be slid, and the cooperating shoulders on the casing and the shoulderson the member l5 securely hold the socket in position and prevent the shell from accidental movement in the assembly. This member of course may be positioned variously with respect to the bodyof the shell. The terminals are preferably made in one piece from a sheet of brass material. The terminalsnot only provide means for making an'electrical connection between the conductors and the socket, but also perform the function of holding the member l5 and the socket together.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims. The invention is hereby claimed as follows; 1. In combination, a flexible rubber open-ended casing having alined grooves extending from the margin of the opening, said grooves merging with base having projections-received in said deeper grooves, said projections providing shoulders engaging the first shoulders and holding the base in position.

2. Incombination a flexible rubber open-ended margin of theopening, said grooves merging with deeper grooves and providing shoulders, a flat base in said casing and engaging said grooves, saidbase having projections received in said deeper 'grooves, said projections providing shoulders engaging the first shoulders and holding the base in position, contacts fastened to each side of the base and electric terminals connected to said contacts.

3. A connector comprising a flexible casing1 made The shoulders 2| and 22 flat base connected to the shell, a part of said base being of a width greater than the diameter of the shell and forming shoulders, said ca's ing having grooves therein forming shoulders and being stretchable within limits for holding the base in position in the casing, the shoulders of the base looking with the shoulders of the casing.

4. Aconnector comprising a shellof a predetermined diameter, a flat base connected to the shell, a part of said base being of a greater width than the diameter of the shell, a flexible rubber casing receiving the connector, and shoulders on the inside of the casing and engaging the said part of the base for holding the connector in place inside of the casing, said casing having aligned grooves therein to receive the said part of said base.

5. A connector comprising a shell of a predetermined diameter, a flat base connected to the shell, a part of said base being of a greater width than the diameter of the shell, a flexible rubber casing, receiving'the connector, and shoulders on the inside of the casing and engaging the said part of the base'for holding the connector in place inside of the casing, said casing having aligned grooves therein to receive the said part of said base, said grooves forming said shoulders which engage the said part of said base.

6. An electric connector comprising a soft flexible casing made of rubber-like material and having an opening therein, said casing having opposite grooves in its inner wall extending from the margin of the opening and having shoulders intermediate their lengths, a base arranged in said casing and having extensions extending into the, grooves, the extensions forming shoulders engaging the first named shoulders for looking the base in the casing, and electric connector means fastened to the base, said casing being stretchable within certain limits to permit insertion or removal of said base.

7. An electric connector comprising a base, a disk connected to the base, a shell engaging the disk, a contact member perpendicular to the disk,

8. A connector comprising a casing having an opening therein, a disk arranged in the opening of the casing, a base plate connected to and extending substantially normal to the disk, said base plate and easing having interfltting means tosecure the base plate to the casing, and terminals secured to said base plate and disk.

9. A connector comprising a casing having an openirg therein, a disk arranged in the opening of the casing, a base plate connected to and extending substantially normal to the disk, said base plate and easing having interfltting meansto secure the base plate-to the casing, and terminal means connected to said base plate and to the disk to relatively bracethe disk and base plate. f

-10. In anarticle of the class described, an electrical lamp socket having a generally cylindrieal configuration, a flexible open-ended rubber casing having an internal substantially cylindrical space formed therein to accommodate and support the socket, a groove formed on the interior side wall of the casing and extending in a direction parallel to the axis of .said cylindrical socket, a guide groove extending longitudinally from said first mentioned groove toward the open end of the casing, a projecting shoulder rigidly formed on the socket and extending a substantial distance outwardly oi the cylindrical confines .thereof. said shoulder in said first mentioned groove, said casing being stretchable within certain limits to permit removal and insertion of the socket.

11. In an article of the clas described, an electrical connector comprising a conducting shell of generally cylindrical configuration, a flexible open-ended casing of rubber-like material having an interior cylindrical space therein relatively closely accommodating said shell for sup-. port there'oi', a groove formed on the interior sidewall otsaidcasingandextendingin-adirection parallel to theaxisof'laid cylindrical shell, a projecting shoulder rigidly tonnedpn the shell and extending a substantial distance outwardlyoi the cylindrical confines thereof. said shoulder engaging in said groove. the said groove being provided with-a shoulder intermediate of said first named shoulder and said open end oi the casing, saidseeond named shoulder extending axially inwardly beyond said flrstnamed shoulder *toretainthesocketaxiallywithinthecasing,

and-a guide groove extending longitudinally from said'flrst named groove toward the open end of the casing.

' FRANCIS C. KOLLA'I'H. 

